Page 46 of Love Unwritten
The singer laughs to himself like he is privy to an inside joke I missed. “Anyway…that song. Shit, you can sing, darl—” He stops himself when Rafael’s head swivels in his direction. “Ellie.”
Somehow, Rafael seems to hate him calling me Ellie more than darling.
I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear to give my hands something to do. “Thanks.”
“Did you write that rendition of ‘Late Nights’ by yourself?”
His question makes me freeze. “Why?”
As much as I want to claim that it was the original version, I keep my lips sealed and the truth locked away, along with all the other secrets I’ve harbored since I moved back to Lake Wisteria a year ago.
“Because it was brilliant.”
My brows jump. “Really?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I prefer it over the original.”
“I agree,” Rafael says, making my chest constrict. Unlike Cole’s, my ex-boss’s compliment worms its way through my heart and remains there.
You’re supposed to be mad at him. Not swooning over him acting remotely nice after being borderline unlikable for eight months.
Maybe that’s why I’m having these kinds of reactions. I was so starved for attention from Rafael that I’m now moved by him doing the absolute bare minimum.
Right. You keep telling yourself that.
Cole continues, “I loved the rawness of the lyrics. They gave me chills.”
I blink twice. “Oh wow. Thank you. That means a lot coming from someone like you.”
“Do you have an agent?”
“No.” The word carries a bitterness to it that makes me cringe.
“Have you ever considered finding one? You could make a lot of money if you created another song like that with the right person.”
I bristle. “I’m not interested.”
“Why?”
“I’m just not.”
Rafael comes closer, keeping enough distance to remain respectful while staying close enough to remind me that I’m not alone. I shouldn’t be grateful for his presence, but I can’t help the gut reaction. There is something about his proximity that comforts me. That makes me feel like if I asked, he would whisk me away, no explanation needed.
Cole raises his hands. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I’m quick to get defensive. “You didn’t.” My chest rises from my deep breath. “It was nice meeting you and all, but I should get back to my friends before they think I ditched them.”
His eyes flash with panic. “Wait.”
Rafael tenses.
Cole scrubs a hand down his face. “I’m screwing all this up. Fuck.”
My head tilts with confusion. “Screwing what up?”
“My first impression.”
“First insinuates there will be more.” Rafael’s arms brush against my back as he crosses them over his chiseled chest, using the oldest intimidation technique in the book. While it doesn’t seem to have any effect on Cole, it does a number on me.